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Route on-time record

SAN to SFO: most on-time flights and the best time to fly

San Diego (San Diego International Airport) to San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport). 6,543 nonstop flights in Jun 2025 to May 2026, 68% arrived within 15 minutes and 1.1% were cancelled. The most reliable flight number was Southwest 4113 at 6:20 AM.

Flying on a specific date? We’ll adjust for the month, the weekday and the forecast.

SAN → SFO

San Diego to San Francisco: 6,543 nonstop flights a year

On time (12 months)

68%

Cancelled

1.1%

avg delay 21 min

Best time to leave

Before 9 AM

76% on time vs 53% 6 to 9 PM

Most reliable airline

United

73% chance on time

Check SAN to SFO fares

Lowest nonstop fare seen in the next two months: $31 (Frontier 3383 on 2026-11-21). Fares open on our travel partner (Aviasales). Pick the flight number you chose here.

Most reliable nonstop flights

Ranked by the chance the flight operates and arrives within 15 minutes of schedule, from Jun 2025 to May 2026 records.

  1. #1 · Southwest 4113

    6:20 AM → 8:10 AM1h 48m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    92%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    96%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    2 min
    • Arrived on time 96% of the time (46 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 46 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 76% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 53%).
    • Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.

    Limited track record · 46 flights

    Find Southwest 4113 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  2. #2 · United 435

    6:20 AM → 8:08 AM1h 48m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-18. Same departure also flew as United 2320; its record covers all of them.

    91%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    92%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    8 min
    • Arrived on time 92% of the time (36 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 36 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 76% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 53%).
    • Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.

    Limited track record · 36 flights

    Find United 435 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  3. #3 · United 2630

    6:36 AM → 8:24 AM1h 48m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-04-29.

    91%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    88%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    5 min
    • Arrived on time 88% of the time (32 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 32 scheduled flights.
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 76% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 53%).
    • Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.

    Limited track record · 32 flights

    Find United 2630 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  4. #4 · United 2117

    4:21 PM → 6:04 PM1h 43m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    80%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    80%
    Cancelled
    0.6%
    Avg arrival delay
    11 min
    • Arrived on time 80% of the time (357 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside SAN's trouble window (6 AM to noon, when 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 357 flights

    Find United 2117 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  5. #5 · United 1763

    1:20 PM → 3:06 PM1h 46m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    78%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    78%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    13 min
    • Arrived on time 78% of the time (321 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 321 scheduled flights.
    • Departs outside SAN's trouble window (6 AM to noon, when 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started).

    Strong track record · 321 flights

    Find United 1763 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  6. #6 · United 259

    9:54 AM → 11:44 AM1h 50m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-03-28.

    77%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    95%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    1 min
    • Arrived on time 95% of the time (21 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
    • Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.
    • Short track record (21 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 21 flights

    Find United 259 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  7. #7 · SkyWest 3473 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska

    4:17 PM → 6:01 PM1h 44m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    76%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    73%
    Cancelled
    0.9%
    Avg arrival delay
    15 min
    • Arrived on time 73% of the time (112 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside SAN's trouble window (6 AM to noon, when 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • 57% of its delay minutes came from the plane arriving late from an earlier flight.

    Moderate track record · 112 flights

    Find 4:17 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  8. #8 · SkyWest 3013 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska

    3:17 PM → 5:01 PM1h 44m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    76%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    68%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    11 min
    • Arrived on time 68% of the time (19 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Departs outside SAN's trouble window (6 AM to noon, when 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started).
    • Short track record (19 flights), so its score leans on the airline's record at this hour.

    Limited track record · 19 flights

    Find 3:17 PM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  9. #9 · SkyWest 3463 · sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska

    7:40 AM → 9:33 AM1h 52m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    75%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    76%
    Cancelled
    0.8%
    Avg arrival delay
    18 min
    • Arrived on time 76% of the time (234 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Leaves in this route's most on-time window (Before 9 AM: 76% on time; 6 to 9 PM: 53%).
    • Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
    • Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.

    Strong track record · 234 flights

    Find 7:40 AM flight fares Opens this date on Aviasales

  10. #10 · United 2309

    11:00 AM → 12:46 PM1h 46m nonstop

    Local times, typical schedule. Last flown 2026-05-31.

    75%

    chance on time

    On time (history)
    72%
    Cancelled
    0.0%
    Avg arrival delay
    14 min
    • Arrived on time 72% of the time (113 flights, Jun 2025 to May 2026).
    • Never cancelled in 113 scheduled flights.
    • Departs inside SAN's trouble window: 66% of its 164 ground stops and delay programs started between 6 AM and noon.
    • Lands inside SFO's trouble window: 61% of its 333 ground stops and delay programs started between 7 AM and 1 PM.

    Moderate track record · 113 flights

    Find United 2309 fares Opens this date on Aviasales

Airlines on this route

Season-adjusted chance of operating and arriving on time.

  • United Airlines73%

    2,585 flights · 73% on time as flown · 0.7% cancel

  • SkyWest Airlines (sold as United Express, Delta Connection, American Eagle or Alaska)70%

    1,581 flights · 71% on time as flown · 1.5% cancel

  • Southwest Airlines60%

    1,886 flights · 61% on time as flown · 1.0% cancel

  • Alaska Airlines59%

    303 flights · 56% on time as flown · 0.6% cancel

  • Frontier Airlines55%

    188 flights · 50% on time as flown · 4.3% cancel

On time by departure time

All airlines, scheduled local departure, Jun 2025 to May 2026.

  • Before 9 AM76%

    1,545 flights · avg delay 14 min

  • 9 AM to noon67%

    1,227 flights · avg delay 20 min

  • Noon to 3 PM68%

    955 flights · avg delay 20 min

  • 3 to 6 PM73%

    1,286 flights · avg delay 20 min

  • 6 to 9 PM53%

    1,270 flights · avg delay 32 min

  • After 9 PM63%

    260 flights · avg delay 18 min

Best day: Tuesday (77%). Worst: Friday (63%).

Smarter routing

Nearby airports that run more on time

  • SAN → SJC 78% chance on time

    San Diego International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport · 4,980 flights a year · 30 mi from your airports · yours: 67%

    Rank flightsFares

  • SAN → OAK 74% chance on time

    San Diego International Airport to Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport · 3,190 flights a year · 11 mi from your airports · yours: 67%

    Rank flightsFares

On time by month

All airlines, Jun 2023 to May 2026. Several years per month, so one stormy season doesn't define a month. Travel-month estimates use this seasonal pattern.

J
78
F
66
M
66
A
58
M
58
J
67
J
73
A
74
S
74
O
67
N
72
D
70

What delays this route

  • Air traffic control and airport volume45%
  • Late-arriving aircraft36%
  • Airline (crew, maintenance, boarding)17%
  • Severe weather2%

Share of delay minutes by the cause airlines report to the US DOT.

Historical odds, not a guarantee. Built from the US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics on-time reports (Jun 2025 to May 2026), FAA ground stop and delay program advisories, and 20 years of airport weather observations. Covers US airlines that report to the DOT; schedules are flights operated recently, so confirm times when you book. ATIS Alerts is not affiliated with any airline. Fares are what Aviasales travelers saw in recent searches (USD, one way, 1 adult), not live quotes; the partner site shows the current price. Fare links go to our travel partner and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure

SAN to SFO questions

What time of day is best to fly SAN to SFO?
Before 9 AM: 76% of flights arrived on time, against 53% for departures 6 to 9 PM. Later flights inherit delays from earlier ones, so the first departures of the day usually run best.
Which airline is most on time from SAN to SFO?
United, with a season-adjusted 73% chance of operating and arriving on time over 2,585 flights. The adjustment compares each airline with what the route did in the months it flew, so a carrier that skipped a stormy month gets no free credit.
What is the worst month for delays on SAN to SFO?
May (58% on time); the best was January (78%), averaged over Jun 2023 to May 2026.
Is this a prediction for my flight?
No. These are historical odds from the US DOT on-time reports, FAA advisories and airport weather records. Check your flight status and the FAA delay board on the day you fly.

More routes from SAN

Live status: FAA delays and ground stops